'Huge step forward in search for grave of Richard III'
Archaeologists searching for the grave of Richard III have found paving stones they believe are part of a lost garden which once housed a memorial to England's last Plantagenet king.
Experts from the University of Leicester and Richard III Society said the tiles, discovered under the city council's Greyfriars car park in New Street, could belong to the lost garden of Robert Herrick.
Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society, said: "This is an astonishing discovery and a huge step forward in the search for King Richard's grave. Herrick is incredibly important in the story of Richard's grave, and in potentially helping us get that little bit closer to locating it."
Historical records state that the garden was home to a memorial to Richard, killed in the 1485 Battle of Bosworth Field.
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Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley said the paving, made of re-used medieval tiles laid in a haphazard pattern, was found at the southern end of the site.
"The tiles were extremely worn and of many different sizes," he said.
"Although the date at which the paving was laid has yet to be confirmed, we suspect that it relates to the period of Herrick's mansion."
After his defeat in battle, the king's body was stripped and brought to Leicester, where he was buried in the Church of the Franciscan Friary, known as the Grey Friars.
However, over time, the exact whereabouts of the church became lost and its remains hidden for 400 years.
The last known record of the site of King Richard's grave was recorded as being in the choir (the part of a church appropriated to singers) at Grey Friars.
Robert Herrick, a former mayor of Leicester, built a mansion on the Grey Friars site and, in 1612, the visiting Christopher Wren, father of the famous architect, recorded seeing a three-foot stone pillar in the garden, inscribed with "Here lies the body of Richard III sometime King of England".
The mansion was demolished and built over in the 1870s, and the garden area was turned into a car park in the 1940s.
The search for Richard's grave, involving the University of Leicester, the city council and Richard III Society, began a fortnight ago.
So far, three trenches have been dug, the last of which uncovered walls of the Friary church.
Mr Buckley said: "Having overcome the major hurdle of finding the church, I am now confident that we are within touching distance of finding the choir – a real turning point in the project and a stage which, at the outset, I never really thought we might reach."
The dig has been stopped for today so the public, can view the site and talk to experts, from 11am to 2pm.
Comments
by LeicesterLad
Monday, September 10 2012, 8:49PM
“I have to confess to not following the story of Richard too closely over the last 30 years or so, but still, I don't ever recall a cry from York demanding that we look for their lost son, or that we start digging up parts of historic Leicester. So, why when it finally looks like we might be getting somewhere, are people starting to call for his return to York? Maybe its to capitalise on someone elses hard work and perseverence? Maybe its to appease their guilt for not having cared earlier?
When York give the Scandanavians back their Viking relics, then maybe we can talk about Richard's remains. Until then, hands off, after all, he's spent longer in Leicester than he ever did in York (If indeed he is in Leicester).”
by georgeisafish
Sunday, September 09 2012, 1:04PM
“and how much is being spent on this nonsence?”
by Bob491
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:01AM
“Richard III was buried in Leicester, and there he should stay whether they find his remains or not.
Where in York is there a statue of King Richard? Nowhere you answer.
But there is one here in Leicester in Castle Park! He died in Leicestershire, and both Leicester and the County have preserved his memory. Here is where he is wanted.
Wanted so much that large numbers of people queued up to see the excavation site in Greyfriars today. I was just one of the many!”
by christine10
Saturday, September 08 2012, 10:57PM
“Richard III and Lord of the North
The last place Richard III would wish to be buried is Leicester, where he was brutally slain at Bosworth. Neither is West Minster Abbey the right place where his enemies are buried.
Richard was dearly loved in Yorkshire, his homeland. York particularly was his home. Richard worshiped in York Minster. The Use of Sarum being the appropriate mass with Anglican elements introduced being an appropriate funeral service. Therefore the appropriate resting place would be York Minster, other contenders are Fotheringay Church - the House of York family vault and Middleham Church.”
by MartinLFE
Saturday, September 08 2012, 5:39PM
“A lost garden, I wonder what else is under our feet?”
by christine10
Saturday, September 08 2012, 12:27PM
“To all reading....
I feel very strongly that King Richard should be buried in Yorkshire. His home, his land, his county. A service at York Minster followed by a burial is surely the rightful way to pay dutiful respects to this ancient King so wrongly accused, so wrongly treated, so wrongly killed. Let us put right some of the mistakes and betrayal of our forefathers.”